AOC committed to sending full team to Athens

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) says it is committed to sending a full team of around 535 athletes to next year's Athens Games.

The AOC has been forced to slash $2.2 million from its Games budget following a post-Sydney Olympics corporate sponsorship shortfall.

But AOC president John Coates says the shortfall will not alter the national committee's determination to select every athlete who qualified.

In that case, Australia is likely to be among the biggest four teams in Athens.

Australian Sports Commission chief executive Mark Peters had queried on Tuesday whether a team numbering about 535 athletes was achievable in the current economic climate.

"We've been telling our young athletes all along that we will again send a full team," Mr Coates said.

"If we were to step back now on our commitment for Athens it wouldn't be fair to them.

"We just wouldn't contemplate adjusting our programs for Athens at this late stage."

The Australian Olympics boss says any move now to cut the size of the team would be a false economy.

He says the Athens organising committee will pay the airfares for all competing athletes.

The cost of outfitting the team, which comes to about $5,000 per athlete, has also been met by sponsors.

The AOC has predicted that had the Olympics been held late last year, Australia would have won 47 medals.

But Mr Peters said on Tuesday that figure could drop as far as the high 30s.

Australia won a record 58 medals at the 2000 Sydney Games, but history dictates that, with the exception of the United States, countries always win more medals as the host nation than they do at subsequent Games.

"Everyone who qualifies and is nominated by their sport in Australia will get picked," Mr Coates said.

"We still think we'll qualify over 500 athletes and finish in the top five on the medals table.